Bicycle sprocket assembly and bicycle rear sprocket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016229486-A1
Application number	US-201514615364-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2015
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bicycle sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a first intervening member, and a second intervening member. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket body and a first chain-engagement structure. The second sprocket includes a second sprocket body and a second chain-engagement structure. The first intervening member is positioned between the first sprocket and the second sprocket in an axial direction parallel to a rotational center axis. The second intervening member is positioned between the first sprocket and the second sprocket in the axial direction. The second intervening member is provided radially outwardly from the first intervening member with respect to the rotational center axis. The second intervening member is attached to at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket and has an elongated shape extending along a first reference plane perpendicular to the rotational center axis.

First claim

1 . A bicycle sprocket assembly having a rotational center axis, the bicycle sprocket assembly comprising:
a first sprocket including a first sprocket body and a first chain-engagement structure configured to engage with a bicycle chain, the first sprocket body having a first hub engagement profile configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly; a second sprocket including a second sprocket body and a second chain-engagement structure configured to engage with the bicycle chain, the second sprocket body having a second hub engagement profile configured to engage with the bicycle hub assembly; a first intervening member positioned between the first sprocket and the second sprocket in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis; and a second intervening member positioned between the first sprocket and the second sprocket in the axial direction, the second intervening member being provided radially outwardly from the first intervening member with respect to the rotational center axis, the second intervening member being attached to at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket and having an elongated shape extending along a first reference plane perpendicular to the rotational center axis, the second intervening member including
a radial thickness defined in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis, and
a circumferential length defined in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly, the circumferential length being longer than the radial thickness to provide the elongated shape.

2 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first intervening member has an annular shape.

3 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first intervening member is a separate member from the second intervening member.

4 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first sprocket is adjacent to the second sprocket without another sprocket intervening between the first sprocket and the second sprocket in the axial direction.

5 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first intervening member has a hub engagement profile configured to engage with the bicycle hub assembly.

6 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first intervening member and the second intervening member are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

7 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first intervening member is attached to at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket by adhesive, and the second intervening member is attached to at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket by adhesive.

8 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first intervening member is attached to at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket by diffusion bonding, and the second intervening member is attached to at least one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket by diffusion bonding.

9 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first chain-engagement structure includes a plurality of first teeth having a first total number, the second chain-engagement structure includes a plurality of second teeth having a second total number, and the first total number is larger than the second total number.

10 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first chain-engagement structure includes
a first annular member, and
a plurality of first teeth circumferentially arranged on an outer periphery of the first annular member,
the first annular member and the plurality of first teeth are made of a metallic material, and the first sprocket body is made of a non-metallic material.

11 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 10 , wherein
the first sprocket body is made of a resin material.

12 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 10 , wherein
the first annular member is attached to the first sprocket body by integral molding.

13 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 10 , wherein
the first annular member is attached to the first sprocket body by adhesive.

14 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second intervening member is integral with one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket as a single unitary member.

15 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second intervening member is attached to the first sprocket and the second sprocket.

16 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sprocket including a third sprocket body and a third chain-engagement structure configured to engage with the bicycle chain, the third sprocket body having a third hub engagement profile configured to engage with the bicycle hub assembly, the second sprocket being positioned between the first sprocket and the third sprocket in the axial direction; a third intervening member positioned between the second sprocket and the third sprocket in the axial direction; and a fourth intervening member positioned between the second sprocket and the third sprocket in the axial direction, the fourth intervening member being provided radially outwardly from the third intervening member with respect to the rotational center axis, wherein the fourth intervening member is attached to at least one of the second sprocket and the third sprocket.

17 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the fourth intervening member having an elongated shape extending along a second reference plane perpendicular to the rotational center axis.

18 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the third intervening member has an annular shape.

19 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the third intervening member is a separate member from the fourth intervening member.

20 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the second sprocket is adjacent to the third sprocket without another sprocket intervening between the second sprocket and the third sprocket in the axial direction.

21 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the fourth intervening member is attached to the second sprocket and the third sprocket.

22 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the third intervening member has a hub engagement profile configured to engage with the bicycle hub assembly.

23 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the third intervening member and the fourth intervening member are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

24 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the fourth intervening member is positioned radially inwardly from the second intervening member with respect to the rotational center axis.

25 . The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the third intervening member is attached to at least one of the second sprocket and the third sprocket by adhesive, and the fourth intervening member is attached to at least one of the second sprocket and the third sprocket by adhesive.

26 . The bicycl

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Yoshida Toyoshi
• Oishi Toshinari
• Fukumori Tsuyoshi

Classifications

• B62M9/12 Primary

  the chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable {, e.g. using a rear derailleur} · CPC title

• B62M9/10 Primary

  involving different-sized wheels, {e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels} selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like {(bicycle hubs rotatably arranged on axle B60B27/023)} · CPC title

• F16H55/303

  for round linked chains, i.e. hoisting chains with identical links · CPC title

• F16H55/06

  Use of materials; Use of treatments of toothed members or worms to affect their intrinsic material properties · CPC title

• F16H55/30

  Chain-wheels · CPC title